ecords and public treasure.

The confusion and surprise in the town were so great that the Irish
generals took no steps whatever, either to hinder his passage back across
the river, or to attack either portion of his divided army. They knew
that treachery must have been at work, to have enabled the enemy to
surprise the camp, and, as they could not tell how far that treachery
extended, they abstained from all action.

Captain Davenant's troop had shared in the disaster inflicted by the
night attack upon the cavalry camp. All were asleep when the English
cavalry burst upon them. Taken utterly by surprise, and ignorant as to
the strength of the force by which they were attacked, there was no
thought of resistance. Officers and men leapt from the piles of rushes,
which served as beds, and rushed to their horses. The English troopers
were cutting and hewing in all directions, and, cutting the picket ropes,
each man sprang on his horse and rode for his life.

Captain Davenant had, at first, shouted to his men to keep steady; but
his words were lost in the din which prevailed, and, seeing that nothing
was to be done, he said to Walter:

"It is all over, Walter. We must ride for it, like the rest."

By morning, the Irish cavalry was scattered all over the country, and it
was not for two or three days that they again assembled in regiments,
presenting a sorry sight, the greater part having lost saddles and
accoutrements of every kind. A few troops, composed of men who had been
fortunate enough to have left their horses saddled when night came on,
were sent back to Limerick. The rest drew off towards Ennis, and encamped
there until they could procure saddles and accoutrements to take the
field again.

In Captain Davenant's troop there were but six men who had saved their
saddles; and, as it would have been useless to send so small a detachment
to Limerick, these remained with the troop, and were, at Walter's
request, placed entirely at his disposal, in order that with them he
might make scouting expeditions in the enemy's rear. He had permission to
consider himself entirely on detached service, and to join any body of
rapparees he might choose; but this Walter did not care about doing, for
he had a horror of the savage acts which were perpetrated by the
irregular forces on both sides, and determined to confine himself to
watching the roads, bringing in news of any convoys which might be
traversing the country, and cutting